Marialane and I worked together at Fanny Mae. I was attracted to her because of her level of leadership and I asked her to become my mentor. This was 15 years ago and as I moved up in my career, she became my executive coach.

Describe what it is like working with Marialane

She has really good listening skills and the ability to guide you to coming to your own conclusion. Most coaches give a diagnosis. She guides you to get to the point where you realize what you need to try or do differently and she does it in a way that’s natural and you don’t feel like it’s bad or good. She helps you see how to address your strengths and weaknesses as a leader.

How would you describe the value that resulted from your work with her and how it benefited you and your organization?

When I first become a manager, she helped me learn how to get others to come up with their own answers without me telling them. This helped me help others become confident. She helped me identify that and helped me focus. It helped me communicate with employees and gave me a focus on what my job is as a leader. If you get more people to share knowledge, you get more diversity of thought, and other people began coming up with better ideas and today they are more productive because they have the confidence they can solve it themselves.

Describe for me what IOCI/Marialane embody in their work?

She embodies great listening skills, professionalism, confidentiality, interpersonal skills and knowledge of executive coaching best practices. She has the ability to come up with the approach that will work for you. I don’t feel like she’s used the same approach with someone else. It’s personal.

What is one of your most fondest memories you have in working with Marialane and why does this story stick with you today?

That moment when she told me I had to delegate more and give people a chance to come up with their own ideas. I tried it the next day in a meeting, and I still tell her today how it worked and that I’ve now mastered it.

This is a unique IOCI client Q+A series offered to help you see first-hand how our experience and expertise helps fuel Spirited Business®.

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